The 2019 Cadillac XT4 was needed in the worst way. Unveiled at the New York International Auto Show last April, it’s now Cadillac’s entry-level luxury SUV and should in theory become its best-selling vehicle.
Buyers love luxury sport utility vehicles, and the more compact and affordable, the better. Yes, affordability is key, or should we say relative affordability. Models like the Cadillac Escalade give the brand notoriety and street cred, but a luxury nameplate starting at less than $45,000 is what makes a high-end automaker like Cadillac profitable.
The 2019 Cadillac XT4 is actually priced at less than $40,000 including freight, and will be taking on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Lexus NX. The new Infiniti QX50, Volvo XC40, and Acura RDX are also in its sights. It will be more affordable than most competitors, but value isn’t the only thing it has going for it.
Check out our First Review of the 2019 Volvo XC40
An efficient turbocharged engine is the 2019 Cadillac XT4’s main selling-point
Although we haven’t had a chance to drive it yet (that’s happening tomorrow at the global launch in Seattle), the XT4’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine certainly seems impressive on paper.
Developing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and paired with a 9-speed automatic gearbox, it has more power than its German rivals by a long shot. Its on-paper combined fuel economy rating of 8.7 liters per 100 kilometers is among the best in the segment.
There’s 22.5 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the rear seats, or almost 800 liters. That makes the 2019 XT4 the most spacious entry-level luxury SUV available right now. It also has more rear leg room than any other model in its segment.
A host of firsts found in the 2019 Cadillac XT4 include a new infotainment system with a rotary controller, a new chassis, Y-shaped LED headlights representing Cadillac’s new design language, and an available active suspension designed to adjust the damping settings in real-time according the driving conditions.
By this time tomorrow we will behind the wheel of the new 2019 Cadillac XT4. Stay tuned for a full review this week.
1960s Cadillacs are my favorite. Sure, they don”t handle as well as the late 70s editions, but who in their right mind is tossing a Cadillac around the pylons? These are meant for leisurely CRUISING. Back in the late 70s Mom had a 68 Calais that she bough from a local doctor. This particular Calais has the incorrect “Cadillac script on the grille it appears to be of 1950s vintage, and that oddly placed lamp on the right grille?